Get Festive and Win!
Get Festive and Win!
Mooju is giving five lucky winners the chance to win a special Christmas Jumper
Looking to add some festive flair to your wardrobe this season? The Mooju team is bringing holiday spirit to Tirlán by launching an exclusive Christmas jumper, perfect for making everyone jealous at your site’s Christmas Jumper Day or any seasonal gathering!
To help spread the cheer, we’re giving away five Mooju Christmas jumpers to our colleagues across all hubs, sites and branches. It’s a fun way to brighten up your team’s Christmas celebrations, whether you’re gathering in person, catching up virtually or just enjoying a festive coffee break.
Want to win? Simply answer this question via the form below:
Name one of Santa’s reindeers!
Entries close Thursday, 11th December. Winners will be announced on Viva Engage, so keep an eye out and get ready to show off your Mooju style. Let’s make this Christmas extra special together. Good luck, and Happy Christmas from Mooju and the Overherd team!
Gender Pay Gap Progress
Gender Pay Gap Progress
Another year of meaningful progress toward pay equity
We’re proud to share the results of our 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report, reflecting another year of meaningful progress toward pay equity at Tirlán.
Key Highlights:
- Mean Gender Pay Gap: 4.5% – a reduction of 4 percentage points since 2024
- Median Gender Pay Gap: -0.4% – a 6.7 percentage point improvement on last year
These results position us close to the national benchmark and among the top performers in our sector. While Ireland’s average gap is now 3.5%, many private-sector organisations still report figures exceeding 30%. Against this backdrop, our progress is significant, but we know there’s more to do.
Building an Inclusive Future
We continue to evolve as a diverse and inclusive organisation. Our ambition is to be at the forefront of sustainable dairy and grains and to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive.
Our systematic approach – gender-neutral job descriptions, mixed-gender interview panels and slates and transparent hybrid working policies – has driven consistent improvement since reporting began in 2022. In 2025, we reaffirmed our commitment to DE&I and hybrid working by introducing new policies and increasing female hires across all pay quartiles (with a focus on further action in the lower middle quartile).
We’re shaping a culture that celebrates difference, through how we attract and retain talent, our education and training programs, psychological safety, coaching and mentorship initiatives and visible role models. Female representation at executive level is tracked monthly, with targeted actions and sponsorship to drive progress.
Sustained Momentum
We are heartened to see positive progress year on year. Our commitment remains strong – to embed inclusion and equity into every aspect of our business and to keep moving forward as a future-focused co-operative. Thank you for your continued commitment to building a truly inclusive workplace.
Celebrating Leadership Growth
Celebrating Leadership Growth
The first Emerging Leader Programme Capstone event highlights our commitment to nurturing talent
On October 23rd, Abbey Quarter was buzzing with energy as we hosted the first Emerging Leader Programme Capstone Event, a milestone moment for Tirlán’s Leadership Academy and its commitment to building leadership excellence.
The Emerging Leader Programme is a cornerstone of our Leadership Academy, designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential employees. Its purpose is clear – equip and empower future leaders to lead effectively and inspire their teams to achieve more.
The capstone event marked the culmination of months of learning, collaboration and reflection. Each participant shared their personal leadership statement, a testament to their growth and vision as leaders. Working in teams, they tackled projects aligned with our business strategy, applying their learning to real-world challenges.
Attendees had the unique opportunity to rotate between groups, hearing firsthand from participants about their experiences, insights and project outcomes. This interactive format sparked meaningful conversations and showcased the depth of talent and ambition within our organisation.
Leadership capability is critical to our success and this programme reflects our intentional approach to developing it. By investing in emerging leaders, we’re not just shaping individual careers – we’re strengthening the future of Tirlán.
A huge thank you to Rhona Howley for steering this programme and delivering such a successful event. A big congratulations to all our Emerging Leader Programme participants; you’ve demonstrated dedication, creativity and a commitment to excellence that inspires us all.
As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to nurturing leadership talent and creating pathways for growth across the business.
Wexford Open Days: Experience the Highlights - Watch Our Lookback Video!
Wexford Open Days: Experience the Highlights - Watch Our Lookback Video!
Showcasing Excellence in Cheese Making
Over 500 of our farmer suppliers recently visited the Wexford facility for a series of Open Days, offering a unique opportunity to see first-hand how their milk is transformed into award-winning Wexford Cheese and high-value whey ingredients.
Nestled in Rocklands, Wexford, this site has been a cornerstone of our operations since 1961. Today, it processes over 400 million litres of milk annually, producing 50,000 tonnes of cheddar and generating more than 100 million litres of concentrated whey each year. A €35 million investment in 2017 tripled the plant’s capacity, reinforcing our commitment to quality and innovation.
The event featured guided tours of the cheese-making process – from milk intake to curd formation and whey separation – highlighting the importance of milk quality and traceability. Suppliers also explored an interactive exhibition showcasing programmes such as Milk Solids Growth, Twenty20 Calf-to-Beef and FarmGen Solar PV Solutions, alongside discussions on sustainability, water quality and nitrates derogation.
John Murphy, Chairperson, expressed pride in welcoming suppliers: “It was a privilege to open our doors and give suppliers a deeper understanding of the scale of our Wexford Cheese facility and the dedicated teams working on their behalf every day.”
Seán Molloy, CEO, emphasised the global reach of our products: “Quality starts on the farm and is upheld at every stage. This commitment makes our cheese a trusted choice in 36 countries worldwide.”
The Wexford site employs over 60 people, many from families with long-standing ties to the facility. With over 20 cheese recipes tailored to diverse customer needs – from pizza toppings to sandwich slices – our team continues to deliver excellence. The distinctive creamy taste of Wexford Cheddar remains a favourite among consumers.
These Open Days were more than a showcase – they were a celebration of partnership, innovation and shared ambition. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success.
Get inspired
Get inspired
Our Excellence Showcase is set to return on 27 November
On Thursday, 27 November, the Operations and Supply Chain Excellence team will host the fourth annual Excellence Showcase at Abbey Quarter. This event has become an important date in the Tirlán calendar, celebrating excellence across our organisation and providing a platform for recognition, knowledge sharing and inspiration.
The Excellence team has been blown away by the number and quality of submissions this year, reflecting the depth of Continuous Improvement initiatives happening across Tirlán. Speaking to Overheard, Will O’Carroll, Business Excellence Manager, said: “I am humbled by the quality of submissions for this year’s Showcase. The shortlisting process was exceptionally difficult and emerging from it, we have 24 truly exceptional projects that deserve to be celebrated. Their collective impact on our organisation is immeasurable – they enable us to remain competitive and future-focused. On behalf of the Excellence team, I look forward to inviting colleagues from across Tirlán to hear from the project teams themselves on their remarkable work.”
What to expect
Planning for the Showcase is well underway. Ciarán Heffernan, who’s leading the event this year, shared: “A huge amount of work goes into planning and execution. Right now, we’re supporting finalists to get their submissions print-ready and introducing new elements for this year’s event. Co-Op members who won Grain and Milk Quality Awards will be spotlighted, there will be a dedicated Health & Safety area promoting a safety-first culture and in the Customer Experience Centre, a joint collaboration between Marketing, Customer Experience and R&D will showcase customer impact stories. I’m blown away every year on the calibre of projects that come through in the submissions and this year has been no different.”
Award Categories
The 24 finalists represent seven categories:
- Academy & Best Use of Lean Tools
- COVA
- Problem Solving
- Strategy
- Customer Impact
- Data Driven
- Sustainability
Winners will be announced for each category, along with People’s Choice Awards for Most Inspiring, Most Impactful and Most Collaborative projects – voted by attendees on the day.
Empowering Communities, Changing Lives
Empowering Communities, Changing Lives
Tirlán’s Charity Cheque Handover event highlighted the power of community spirit
The Tirlán Mountain Challenge and Tour de Tirlán committee members gathered at Abbey Quarter for a heartwarming occasion: the handover of €130,000 to three remarkable charities – The Father McGrath Centre, Amber Women’s Refuge and our charity partner Aware. This impressive sum was raised through the collective efforts of our people who took part and supported the Tirlán Mountain Challenge (June) and Tour de Tirlán (September), reflecting the power of teamwork and community spirit.
Representatives from each charity joined us at the end of October to collect their cheques and share how these donations will make a difference:
- Amber Women’s Refuge: Ken Byrne described the donation as “a gift,” enabling the centre to provide vital services to women and children in Kilkenny and Carlow. Last year’s fundraising allowed for 276 free counselling sessions for 74 women. This year, the funds will help build a new playground and sensory garden for children at the refuge, offering a safe and nurturing space for those fleeing violence and abuse.
- Aware: Drew Flood highlighted the urgent need for mental health support, noting that depression is projected to be the leading cause of disease burden globally by 2030. Tirlán’s donations have already funded over 6,000 support line calls, covering three months of helpline services. This year’s contribution will help Aware continue to reach and support even more people across Ireland, ensuring no one faces depression alone.
- Father McGrath Centre: Mike Kelly and team shared how the Centre has evolved from tackling early school leaving to offering a wide range of community supports, including educational programmes, childcare training and addiction recovery initiatives. The funds will help expand their sensory room for children from traumatised backgrounds and support scholarships for young leaders. Last year’s donation enabled youth leaders to participate in an international exchange, described as “life-altering” by those who attended.
The main message from all three charities was one of deep gratitude for Tirlán employees’ support. The stories shared at the event brought home just how much impact our fundraising efforts have, locally, nationally and internationally. It’s a testament to the commitment of our values.
Save The Dates
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part and fundraised for these chosen charities. We look forward to doing it all again next year! Save the dates:
- Tirlán Mountain Challenge: Friday, 24th & Saturday, 25th April 2026
- Tour de Tirlán: Friday, 11th September 2026
More details will follow – let’s continue to support each other and make a difference!
Ingredients Team Update – Recent Highlights
Ingredients Team Update – Recent Highlights
Strengthening Partnerships, Showcasing Innovation and Building Capabilities for a Customer-Centric Future
Knowledge Exchange with Almarai
In September and October, Tim Purcell and the Operations team proudly hosted two colleagues from Almarai as part of our Knowledge Exchange Programme. Almarai is a valued strategic customer and this initiative was designed to deepen collaboration, share best practices and advance operational excellence.
Spanning Ballyragget, Wexford and Belview, the programme offered hands-on experiences including site walkthroughs, technical deep dives and efficiency analysis. A big thank you to Eamonn Power, Mark Power, John O’Connor, Kay Butler, Elaine Lafferty, Matthew Roche, John Finlay, Will O’Carroll and Cieran Heffernan for their expertise and commitment. This is a fantastic example of Operations and Commercial working seamlessly together to strengthen partnerships for the future.
Team Training – The Tirlán Way
As part of our quarterly commercial meetings in September, the Global Ingredients Sales team came together for a two-day training focused on consultative selling. Co-created with Uspire Group, this programme introduced “The Tirlán Way” customer management framework, designed to keep the Voice of the Customer front and centre.
The interactive sessions included role plays, group discussions and real-time feedback, helping the team build confidence in navigating complex conversations and delivering value-driven solutions. The energy and collaboration were outstanding and the team is ready to bring The Tirlán Way to life in daily interactions.
Showcasing Irish Dairy at Bord Bia Event
On October 31, Raymond from Consumer Dairy and Rick Huang represented Tirlán at the Bord Bia Dairy event, which brought together 70 leading customers from the dairy and nutrition industries. We engaged with existing partners like Bright Dairy and RuppDachan and connected with potential customers including ChinaCPT and Milkland.
Key speakers, including Timmy Dooley (Minister of State) and Shane Hamill (Irish Food Agency), highlighted opportunities for Irish dairy in China, particularly in high value-added and functional categories such as sports and adult nutrition. On behalf of Tirlán, Rick introduced our capabilities and solutions and the networking session generated over 10 new prospects. Thanks to everyone who helped; this event raised Tirlán’s profile and improved our connections with customers and Irish authorities.
Looking Ahead
These initiatives reflect our commitment to operational excellence, customer-centricity and continuous improvement. Thank you to everyone involved for your hard work and dedication – together, we’re shaping the future of our Ingredients business.
Tirlán wins National Age Friendly Award!
Pictured at the 2025 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards were CEO of Galway Chamber Karen Ronan who presented the award to Olivia Treacy, Eimear Lynam and Fergus Holohan at Tirlán, who received the Age Friendly Business Innovation Award (sponsored by Chambers Ireland). The winners were announced at the ninth annual ceremony in Galway, organised by Age Friendly Ireland, the national organisation implementing the Government’s vision of an Age Friendly Ireland
Image: Andrew Downes
Tirlán wins National Age Friendly Award!
Our win is a testament to the hard work and care by our Age Friendly Champions
Thanks to incredible teamwork across retail, operations, training and customer engagement, Tirlán was recently announced as the winner in the Age Friendly Business Innovation category at the National Age Friendly Awards 2025.
Over 40 Age Friendly Champions drove change through introducing better accessibility, clearer signage and tailored in-store supports. Monasterevin proudly showcased these efforts during the Age Friendly judges’ visit, representing all branches.
By year-end, all 52 stores will be Age Friendly certified, marking a major milestone in customer-centric progress. “This award is a testament to hard work, care and belief in making a meaningful impact for our farmers, customers and communities, enhancing the experience for all,” said Olivia Treacy, Supplier and Customer Engagement Manager.
Delivering results that matter
Delivering results that matter
Collaboration and Empower & Go in action at Tirlán
Katriona Kinsella, Senior Marketing Executive and John Hore, GAIN Equine Nutrition Business Manager, are a brilliant example of how collaboration and empowerment drive meaningful impact for our customers.
Their joint leadership on the GAIN Mares Series activation showcases a truly customer-centric approach, with both working seamlessly to support our Grass Roots Equine and Branch customers. By combining marketing expertise with deep industry knowledge, Katriona and John are delivering a sponsorship that not only elevates the visibility of the series, but also delivers real value to the equine community.
Their proactive mindset, responsiveness to customer needs and ability to move with agility reflect the essence of Empower & Go. Together, they’ve built strong relationships across the sector, ensuring that every touchpoint, from customer engagement to digital promotion, feels relevant and authentic.
This partnership is a great example of how cross-functional teamwork can unlock new opportunities and deliver results that matter. Well done to Katriona and John for embodying our values and setting a high standard for collaborative excellence.
Celebrating Irish food
Celebrating Irish food
Tirlán lends its support to Savour Kilkenny Food Festival
We were delighted to once again sponsor the Savour Kilkenny Food Festival over the October Bank Holiday weekend. Established in 2008, Savour Kilkenny celebrated the best of produce, food and culture of Kilkenny and featured a strong line-up of food producers, cookery demos, interactive talks and family entertainment.
As a headline sponsor, the Avonmore Food Hub drew a huge crowd, with even more activity and sampling this year. Our sampling van served tasty treats showcasing family favourites like Avonmore Protein Soups and Mooju, as well as new innovations such as Avonmore Protein Coffee and Special Edition Avonmore Cookies and Cream Whipped Cream.
We offered lots of prizes, giveaways and interactive family areas and sponsored celebrity chef Rory O’Connell from Ballymaloe Cookery School on the main stage, where Rory whipped up a storm using Avonmore Cream and Butter.
The event provided great profile for both Tirlán and Avonmore and was a wonderful opportunity to be part of a food festival that celebrated the best of Irish food. This year, the festival welcomed over 68,000 visitors, making it one of the most successful editions to date.